From the second he stepped on Alabama’s practice field, Evan Neal has been a key fixture of the team’s offense.
Earning a starting role his freshman season, Neal has helped produce one of the top rushing attacks in the country while helping protect two first round picks at quarterback. Last season he moved back to his natural position at tackle which caught the eye of NFL scouts if his sheer size didn’t already.
Now as he heads into his junior season he is likened to be one of the best offensive linemen in the country.
One of the main football grading websites Pro Football Focus, evaluated Neal’s play and listed him as the top offensive lineman in this years projected draft class, and ranked him as the sixth best prospect out of the entire player pool.
Who will be the number 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft?@PFF_Mike's preseason top-10 prospects 🏆⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LRFeU7EcLa
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) July 14, 2021
From a grading standpoint Neal has performed as good as any of his peers. In his two seasons with the Crimson Tide he has missed only six assignments and called for three penalties in his 26 career starts.
Neal also boasts a freakish athletic build as he stands at 6’7 while weighing in at 360 lbs according to Alabama’s team website.
He’s the ideal size for an NFL tackle but can also perform feats such as this.
For the record, Evan Neal is the size of three normal sized humans and he's doing this. 😲
(🎥 via @ENeal73) pic.twitter.com/MtTtfaR5g2
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) July 13, 2021
This season he is the elder-statesman on an Alabama that’s gone through a lot of turnover since its national championship season in 2020. The team returns just one other starter in Emil Ekiyor Jr. while also work in in a new quarterback in Bryce Young.
2021 will be a big season for Neal to show what kind of player he is as the unquestioned leader of the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
